Refrigerator rail assembly and refrigerator storage box extracting/retracting apparatus having the same

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a refrigerator rail assembly for guiding a storage box while the storage box is being extracted from or retracted into a space of a refrigerator. The refrigerator rail assembly includes: a guide rail provided on a side of the storage space to extend in the front-to-rear direction of the storage space, the guide rail having a guide channel formed in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail and opened at a side thereof; a movable rail having a guide channel formed in the longitudinal direction of the movable rail and opened at a side opposed to the guide channel of the guide rail, the storage box being removably installed to the movable rail; an intermediate rail having a pair of guide flanges which are inserted into the guide channels, respectively; and a plurality of ball bearings interposed between the guide channels and the guide flanges. The guide rail and the movable rail move in relation to the intermediate rail, so that the storage box is extracted from or retracted into the storage space.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and in particular to a refrigerator rail assembly for guiding a refrigerator storage box while the storage box is being extracted from or retracted into a storage space of the refrigerator, and a refrigerator storage box extracting/retracting apparatus having such a rail assembly.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A refrigerator is provided with a storage space within the body thereof, which is selectively opened or closed by a door. The door may be a pivotable type or a slidable type in opening or closing the storage space. In particular, if the door is a slidable type in opening or closing the storage space, a refrigerator storage box is provided within the storage space in such a manner that the storage box can be extracted from or retracted into the storage space simultaneously when the storage space is opened or closed. In addition, there is also provided a rail assembly for guiding the storage box while the storage box is being extracted from or retracted into the storage space.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the interior of a refrigerator provided with a conventional refrigerator storage box extracting/retracting apparatus.

As shown in the drawing, a refrigerator body 10 is provided with a storage space 11 within the interior thereof. The storage space 11 may be selectively opened or closed by a sliding door (not shown) like a drawer. In the storage space 11, there are provided a storage box which is capable of being extracted from or retracted into the storage space 11, and a pair of rail assemblies 20 for guiding the storage box while the storage box is being extracted from or retracted into the storage space.

Each of the rail assemblies 20 includes a guide rail 21 fixed to one of the opposite side walls of the storage space 11, an intermediate rail 23 installed to be movable along the guide rail 21, and a movable rail 25 installed to be movable along the intermediate rail 23. In addition, if the door is slid to open or close the storage space 11 like a drawer, the movable rail 25 and the intermediate rail 23 are moved along the intermediate rail 23 and the guide rail 21, respectively, so that the storage box is extracted from or retracted into the storage space 11.

Meanwhile, each of the rail assemblies 20 is provided with a self closing unit. The self-closing unit is provided so as to allow the storage box to be more readily retracted into the storage space 11. For example, the self closing unit includes a movable member moving along the guide rail 21, an elastic member for applying an elastic force, which is biased to the rear side of the storage space, to the movable member, and a extracting-cooperative projection provided at the rear end of the movable rail 25, so that when the movable rail 25 and the intermediate rail 23 are moved by a predetermined distance toward the rear side of the storage space 11, the extracting-cooperative projection is selectively hooked to the movable member.

However, the above-mentioned conventional refrigerator storage box extracting/retracting apparatus has problems as follows.

As described above, an elastic force biased toward the rear side of the storage space 11 is applied to the movable rail 25 by the self-closing unit. Therefore, the retracting velocity of the storage box is increased when the storage box is retracted into the storage space 11 by a predetermined distance. As a result, a part of a user's body may be caught in between the refrigerator body 10 and the storage box, whereby the user may be injured.

Furthermore, if the velocity of the storage box retracted into the storage space 11 is increased, an impact or noise may occur while the storage box is being received in the storage space 11.

In addition, because the rail assemblies 20 are provided on the opposite side walls of the storage space 11, the opposite sides of the storage box are only substantially supported by the rail assemblies 20. As a result, the bottom wall of the storage box may sag due to the food contained in the storage box. In particular, the central area of the front-to-rear direction of the bottom wall is subject to the largest moment due to the food contained in the storage box. Therefore, the bottom surface of the bottom wall comes into contact with the bottom wall of the storage space 11. As a result, the storage box is not readily extracted or retracted due to the frictional force between the bottom wall of the storage space 11 and the bottom surface of the bottom wall of the storage box.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator rail assembly which can be used more safely and a refrigerator storage box extracting/retracting apparatus having such a rail assembly.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator rail assembly configured to be capable of preventing an impact or noise occurring while a refrigerator storage box is being extracted from or retracted into the storage space of the refrigerator and a refrigerator storage box extracting/retracting apparatus having such a rail assembly.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator rail assembly configured to be capable of minimizing the friction between a refrigerator storage box and a storage space of the refrigerator and a refrigerator storage box extracting/retracting apparatus having such a rail assembly.

In order to accomplish the above-mentioned objects, there is provided a refrigerator rail assembly for guiding a storage box while the storage box is being extracted from or retracted into a space of a refrigerator, including: a guide rail provided on a side of the storage space to extend in the front-to-rear direction of the storage space, the guide rail having a guide channel formed in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail and opened at a side thereof; a movable rail having a guide channel formed in the longitudinal direction of the movable rail and opened at a side opposed to the guide channel of the guide rail, the storage box being removably installed to the movable rail; an intermediate rail having a pair of guide flanges which are inserted into the guide channels, respectively; and a plurality of ball bearings interposed between the guide channels and the guide flanges. The guide rail and the movable rail move in relation to the intermediate rail, so that the storage box is extracted from or retracted into the storage space.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, each of the guide channels is formed to have a polyhedral cross-section, one side of which is at least partially opened, each of the guide flanges is formed so as to be positioned within a corresponding guide channel in such a manner that one surface of the guide flange is spaced from an inner surface of the guide channel opposed to the guide flange by a predetermined interval, and the ball bearings are interposed between an inner surface of each of the guide channels and one surface of each of the guide flanges, wherein the inner surface and the one surface are opposed to each other.

In addition, the one surface of the guide flange opposed to the inner surface of the guide channel may be formed with a partition rib extending in the longitudinal direction of the guide flange so as to prevent the bearings from moving in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the intermediate rail.

Further more, the intermediate rail may be formed to extend in the longitudinal direction so that it is positioned within the guide channels in such a manner that its widthwise opposite edges are spaced from the inner surfaces of the guide channels by a predetermined distance. The guide flanges are spaced from the widthwise opposite edges of the intermediate rails by a predetermined distance, respectively. As a result, the ball bearings are prevented from moving in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the intermediate rail by the widthwise opposite edges of the intermediate rail.

In addition, each of the opposite side walls of the storage space is provided with the guide rail.

The guide rail is provided on the bottom wall of the storage space.

The inventive refrigerator rail assembly may further comprise a damping device providing a damping force for controlling the moving velocity of the movable rail in relation to the guide rail.

The damping device comprises: a damping unit providing a damping force for reducing the moving velocity of the movable rail in relation to the guide rail in the direction of retracting the storage box into the storage space; and an engagement means rendering the movable rail and the damping unit to be selectively engaged with each other depending to the moving direction of the movable rail in relation to the guide rail in the direction of extracting the storage box to the outside of the storage space.

The damping unit comprises: a piston installed to be movable in the moving direction of the movable rail in relation to the guide rail; and damping fluid restricting the movement of the piston in the direction of retracting the storage box into the storage space.

The damping unit further comprises an elastic member applying an elastic force to the piston in the direction of retracting the storage box into the storage space.

In addition, the engagement means comprises: a cooperation cam engaged with the piston; a guide member provided on the guide rail, the guide member having a first guide slot for guiding the movement of the cooperation cam; and a cooperation member provided on a side of the movable rail, the cooperation member being selectively engaged with the cooperation cam depending on the moving distance of the movable rail in relation to the guide rail in the direction of extracting the storage box to the outside of the storage space.

According to the present invention configured as described above, if the movable rail is moved in relation to the guide rail in the direction of retracting the storage box into the storage space, a retracting-cooperative projection provided on the cooperation cam comes into close contact with a retracting-cooperative part provided on the cooperation member, whereby the cooperation cam and the cooperation member are engaged with each other. In addition, if the movable rail is moved in relation to the guide rail in the direction of extracting the storage box to the outside of the storage space, an extracting-cooperative projection provided on the cooperation cam is seated on an extracting-cooperative part provided on the cooperation member, whereby the cooperation cam and the cooperation member are engaged with each other. Moreover, if the storage box is moved by a predetermined distance in relation to the guide rail in the direction of extracting the storage box to the outside of the storage space, a guide projection provided on the cooperation cam is moved along a second guide slot formed in the guide member, whereby the cooperation cam is elastically deformed in relation to the piston, so that the extracting-cooperative projection is released from the state seated on the extracting-cooperative part.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator storage box extracting/retracting apparatus including: a storage box installed to be capable of being extracted from/retracted into a storage space of a refrigerator; a rail assembly for guiding the extraction and retraction of the storage box as mentioned above; and an engagement means rendering the storage box and the rail assembly to be removably engaged with each other.

Here, each of the opposite side walls of the storage space may be provided with the guide rail of the rail assembly. In addition, the engagement means may be a hook provided on a side of the guide rail of the rail assembly to be selectively hooked to a side of the storage box.

More preferably, the refrigerator storage box extracting/retracting apparatus may further include a door connected to an end of the guide rail so as to selectively open or close the storage space like a drawer.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the engagement means may include: a mounting groove formed on one side of the bottom surface of the storage box and the guide rail of the rail assembly; and a mounting boss formed on the other side of the bottom surface of the storage box and the guide rail of the rail assembly and engaged with the mounting groove.

The bottom surface of the storage box may be provided with a mounting channel, into which the guide rail is inserted. Here, the mounting channel may be formed by deforming a part of the bottom surface upwardly, so that the bottom surface is recessed.

According to the present invention as described above, it is possible to enhance the safety and convenience in use of a final product.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the inventive refrigerator storage box extracting/retracting apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the first embodiment of the inventive refrigerator storage box extracting/retracting apparatus in a state in which a storage box is received within a storage space of a refrigerator;

FIG. 3 shows an operation for extracting the storage box out of the storage space according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows an operation for retracting the storage box into the storage space according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of the inventive refrigerator storage box extracting/retracting box;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the second embodiment in a state in which the storage box is received in a space of a refrigerator;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal section view schematically showing a main part assembled in the second embodiment; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the interior of a refrigerator provided with a conventional refrigerator storage box extracting/retracting apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to accompanying drawings. In the following description and drawings, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same or similar components.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a firs embodiment of the inventive refrigerator storage box extracting/retracting apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the first embodiment of the inventive refrigerator storage box extracting/retracting apparatus in a state in which a storage box is received within a storage space of a refrigerator.

As shown in the drawings, a rail assembly 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention has a guide rail 32 which is formed to be elongated in the longitudinal direction. Each of the opposite side walls of a storage space formed in a refrigerator body is provided with such a guide rail 32 in such a manner that the guide rail 32 extends in the front-to-rear direction of the storage space. At this time, the guide rail 32 is installed in such a way that the right end of the guide rail 32 as viewed in FIG. 1 is directed toward the front side of the storage space.

In order to fix the guide rail 32 to a corresponding side wall of the storage space, the guide rail 32 is provided with an anchoring rib 33 which is tightly abutted against the corresponding side wall. In addition, the anchoring rib 33 is formed with a plurality of through-holes 33 a, through each of which an anchoring means such as a screw is inserted so as to be anchored to the side wall. The number of the through-holes 33 a can be determined depending on either the length or the weight of the rail assembly 30.

Meanwhile, a self-damping unit 34 is provided at the rear end of the guide rail 32. The self-damping unit 34 reduces the moving velocity of a movable rail 46 to be described later by using pneumatic or hydraulic pressure. As a result, the self-damping unit 34 serves to substantially reduce the retraction velocity of the storage box when the storage box is retracted into the storage space. For this purpose, a damping fluid such as gas or liquid is provided within a cylinder 36 of the self-damping unit 34. Such a damping fluid substantially suppresses the movement of the piston toward the rear side of the storage space, which is executed by an elastic force of a spring to be described later, so as to reduce the retraction velocity of the storage box while the storage box is being received into the storage space.

In addition, a piston (not shown) is provided in the cylinder. The piston performs rectilinear movement in the moving direction of the movable rail 46 in relation to the guide rail 32, i.e. in the front-to-rear direction of the storage space. Furthermore, a spring (not shown) is also provided in the cylinder 36. Each of the opposite ends of the spring is fixed to one side of the cylinder 36 or the piston. The spring exerts an elastic force to the piston in the direction for retracting the storage box into the storage space, i.e. toward the rear side of the storage space. That is, the piston receives the elastic force biased toward the rear side of the storage space while the movement of the piston activated by the elastic force is suppressed by the damping fluid.

A rod 37 is connected to the piston. The rod 37 has a predetermined length, wherein one end of the rod 37 extends outside of the cylinder 36 while the other end is connected to the piston. Since the one end of the piston extends outside of the cylinder 36, it is of course possible to omit the rod 37. The one end of the rod 37 extending outside of the cylinder 36 is provided with a cooperation cam 38.

The cooperation cam 38 is preferably formed from a resilient material so that it is elastically deformable in relation to the rod 37. For example, the cooperation cam 38 may be formed from a resilient synthetic resin.

In addition, the cooperation cam 38 is formed with a retracting-cooperative projection 38 a. The retracting-cooperative projection 38 a is upwardly extended from a side of the rod 37 by a predetermined height. The cooperation cam 38 is also formed with an extracting-cooperative projection 38 b. The extracting-cooperative projection 38 b is spaced from the retracting-cooperative projection 38 a in the forward direction of the storage space by a predetermined distance. That is, the extracting-cooperative projection 38 b is spaced rightward from the retracting-cooperative projection 38 a in FIG. 1. In addition, a guide projection 38 c is horizontally extended from a side of the cooperation cam 38 by a predetermined length.

In addition, a guide rib 40 is provided on a side of the guide rail 32. The guide rib 40 serves to guide the movements of the rod 37 and the cooperation cam 38. The guide rib 40 is provided with a first guide slot 40 a and a second guide slot 40 b. The first guide slot 40 a is formed on the top area of the guide rib 40 so as to guide the movements of the retracting-cooperative projection 38 a and the extracting-cooperative projection 38 b. The second guide slot 40 b is formed on a side area of the guide rib 40. The second guide slot 40 b is formed substantially in a “

” shape, wherein with reference to FIG. 1, the right end facing the front side of the storage space extends downward. Beyond guiding the movement of the guide projection 38 c, the second guide slot 40 b serves to prevent the rod 37 and the cooperation cam 38 from being backwardly moved by the elastic force of the spring in a state in which the rod 37 and the cooperation cam 38 have been moved toward the front side of the storage space by a predetermined distance as the movable rail 46 has been moved to the front side of the storage space by a predetermined distance. For this purpose, the guide projection is adapted to be engaged to the front end of the second guide slot while being moved along the second guide slot 40 b. At this time, the cooperation cam 38 is elastically deformed downwardly in relation to the rod 37.

The guide rail 32 is provided with an intermediate rail 44 forming the rail assembly 30. The intermediate rail 44 is installed to be movable along the guide rail 32. In addition, the intermediate rail 44 is provided with a movable rail 46 forming the rail assembly 30. The movable rail 46 is installed to be movable along the intermediate rail 44. The movable rail 46 is connected to the door which selectively opens or closes the storage space. Therefore, if the door closes the storage space, the intermediate rail 44 and the movable rail 46 are moved backward along the guide rail 32 and the intermediate rail 44, respectively. Although not shown in the drawings, a plurality of ball bearings may be provided between the guide rail 32 and the intermediate rail 44 and between the intermediate rail 44 and the movable rail 46.

A hook 50 is provided at the rear end of the movable rail 46. A side of the rear end of the storage box is adapted to be hooked to the hook 50. Therefore, if the intermediate rail 44 and the movable rail 46 are moved forward or backward in response to the movement of opening or closing the door, the storage box is extracted from or retracted into the storage space.

A cooperation member 48 is provided on a side of the movable rail 46. The cooperation member 48 serves to render the cooperation cam 38, and the rod 37 and the piston, which are connected to the cooperation cam 38, to overcome the elastic force of the spring and move forward or backward in relation to the storage space in response to the movement of the movable rail 46.

The cooperation member 48 has a retracting-cooperative part 48 a. The retracting-cooperative part 48 a selectively comes into close contact with the retracting-cooperative projection 38 a, so that when the movable rail 46 is moved toward the rear side of the storage space, the retracting-cooperative part 48 a releases the guide projection 38 c from the state hooked to the front end of the second guide slot 40 b.

In addition, the cooperation member 48 has an extracting-cooperative part 48 b. The extracting cooperative projection 38 b is selectively seated on the cooperative part 48. That is, while the guide projection 38 c moves along the second guide slot 40 b, the extracting-cooperative projection 38 b is seated on the extracting-cooperative part 48 b. If the guide projection 38 c moving along the second guide slot 40 b is hooked to the front end of the second guide slot 40 b, the extracting-cooperative projection 38 b is disengaged from the extracting-cooperative part 48 d.

Now, the action of the embodiment of the inventive refrigerator storage box extracting/retracting apparatus will be described with reference to accompanying drawings.

At first, a description of how to assemble and install the inventive refrigerator storage box extracting/retracting apparatus will be given.

An intermediate rail 44 is movably assembled to a corresponding guide rail 32 and then a movable rail 46 is assembled to a corresponding intermediate rail 44. Then, if a self-damping unit 34 is fixed to the rear end of the guide rail 32, a rail assembly 30 is completely assembled.

A pair of rail assemblies 30 assembled as described above are fixed to the opposite side walls of a storage space of a refrigerator. More specifically, a rail assembly 30 is fixed to one of the opposite side walls of the storage space. In such a case, the anchoring rib 33 of the guide rail 32 of the rail assembly 30 is tightly abutted against a corresponding side wall of the storage surface and then anchoring means such as screws are anchored to the side wall through the through holes 33 a of the anchoring rib 30, whereby the rail assembly 30 is fixed. Then, the movable rail 46 is connected to the rear side of the door and the rear end of the storage box is hooked to the hook 50. In this manner, the installation of the rail assemblies 30 is completed.

Next, the operation of the inventive refrigerator storage box for extracting the storage box out of the storage space or retracting the storage box into the storage space will be described by way of an example.

FIG. 3 shows an operation for extracting the storage box out of the storage space according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 shows an operation for retracting the storage box into the storage space according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, in a state in which the storage box is completely received within the storage space, i.e. in the state indicated by “A”, the retracting-cooperative projection 38 a of the cooperation cam 38 comes into close contact with the retracting-cooperative part 48 a of the cooperation member 48, and the extracting-cooperative projection 38 b of the cooperation cam 38 is received in the extracting-cooperative part 48 b of the cooperation member 48. In addition, the guide projection 38 c of the cooperation cam 38 is positioned at the rear end of the second guide slot 40 b of the guide rib 30. At this time, the cooperation cam 38 receives an elastic force biased to the rear side of the storage space from the spring through the rod 37.

From this condition, if a user pulls the door like a drawer so as to open the storage space, the movable rail 46 and the intermediate rail 44 are moved toward the front side of the storage space along the guide rail 32, whereby the storage box starts to be extracted to the outside of the storage space. As a result, the cooperation cam 38 overcomes the elastic force and moves toward the front side of the storage space along the first guide slot 40 a of the guide rib 40 in response to the movement of the movable rail 46 and the intermediate rail 44 and arrives at the position as indicated by “B” in FIG. 3. At this time, the guide projection 38 c moves toward the front side of the storage space along the second guide slot 40 b.

If the user continuously draws the door to the front of the storage space, the movable rail 46 and the intermediate rail 44 are continuously moved to the front side of the storage space along the guide rail 32. If the cooperation cam 38 also moves toward the front side of the storage space along the first guide slot 40 a in response to the movement of the movable rail 46 and the intermediate rail 44, the cooperation cam 38 arrives at the position indicated by “C” in FIG. 3. At this time, the guide projection 38 c is moved along the first guide slot 40 a and then moved downwardly by the front end of the second guide slot 40 b, thereby being hooked to the front end. At the same time, the extracting-cooperative projection 38 b is released from the state seated on the extracting-cooperative part 48 b. Therefore, even if the movable rail 46 and the intermediate rail 44 are continuously moved to the front side of the storage space along the guide rail, the cooperation cam 38 is not moved any more toward the front side of the storage space along the first guide slot 40 a. In addition, because the guide projection 38 c is in a state of being hooked to the second guide slot 40, the cooperation cam 38 is not moved backward even if the elastic force of the spring is applied to the cooperation cam 38.

If the door is continuously pulled forwardly, the storage space is completely opened by the door. Therefore, the storage box is completely extracted outside of the storage space. In addition, in a state in which the intermediate rail 44 is completely moved toward the front side of the storage space along the guide rail 32, the movable rail 46 is moved toward the front side of the storage space along the intermediate rail 44.

In order to render the storage box, which has been completely extracted outside of the storage space, to be received in the storage space, the user pushes the door toward the rear side of the storage space like a drawer. Therefore, the movable rail 46 moves toward the rear side of the storage space along the intermediate rail 44.

If the user continuously pushes the door backward, the movable rail 46 is completely moved to the rear side of the storage space along the intermediate rail 44. Then, the movable rail 46 and the intermediate rail 44 are moved toward the rear side of the storage space along the guide rail 32.

If the movable rail 46 and the intermediate rail 44 are moved, the cooperation member 48 is also moved toward the rear side of the storage space. Therefore, if the storage box is retracted into the storage space by a predetermined distance from the state in which the storage box is completely extracted to the outside of the storage space, the movable rail 46 and the intermediate rail 44 are positioned in the state indicated by “D” in FIG. 4, wherein the retracting-cooperative part 48 a and the retracting-cooperative projection 38 a come into close contact with each other.

If the user continuously pushes the door backward, the movable rail 46 and the intermediate rail 44 are moved toward the rear side of the storage space along the guide rail 32, and the cooperation member 48 is also moved toward the rear side of the storage space. As a result, since the retracting-cooperative projection 38 a is pushed while being in close contact with the retracting-cooperative part 48 a, the cooperation cam 38 is moved toward the rear side of the storage space. At the same time, the guide projection 38 c is released from the state hooked to the front end of the second guide slot 40 b, and the extracting-cooperative projection 38 b is seated on the extracting-cooperative part 48 b.

However, the spring exerts an elastic force biased to the rear side of the storage space to the cooperation cam 38. Therefore, even if the cooperation member 48 is not moved toward the rear side of the storage space by the movement of the movable rail 46 and the intermediate rail 44, i.e. even if the user retracts the door backward, the cooperation cam 38 and the cooperation member 48 move toward the rear side of the storage space and arrives at the position indicated by “E” in FIG. 4. By this movement of the cooperation member 48, the movable rail 46 and the intermediate rail 44 are moved toward the rear side of the storage space along the guide rail 32. In addition, by the movement of the movable rail 46 and the intermediate rail 44, the storage box is continuously retracted into the storage space and moves the door backward, thereby closing the storage space.

Meanwhile, if the cooperation cam 38 moves toward the rear side of the storage space, the rod 37 and the piston connected to the cooperation cam 38 are also moved toward the storage space. However, since the inner side of the cylinder 36 is filled with the damping fluid, the movement of the piston toward the rear side of the storage space is restricted by the damping fluid. Therefore, the velocity of the cooperation cam 38 moving toward the rear side of the storage space is reduced by the elastic force of the spring, whereby the velocity of the storage box retracted into the storage space is substantially reduced.

Now, a second embodiment of the inventive refrigerator rail assembly and the inventive refrigerator storage box extracting/retracting apparatus having the same will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the second embodiment of the inventive refrigerator storage box extracting/retracting box, FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the second embodiment in a state in which the storage box is received in a space of a refrigerator, and FIG. 7 is a longitudinal section view schematically showing a main part assembled in the second embodiment.

As shown in the drawings, a rail assembly 130 is installed on the bottom wall of a storage space 110 formed in a body of a refrigerator. In other words, although the rail assemblies 30 are installed on the opposite side walls of the storage space in the above-mentioned first embodiment to extend in the front-to-rear direction, according to the present embodiment, the rail assembly 130 is installed on the bottom wall of the storage space to extend in the front-to-rear direction. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible for a storage box 152 to be guided by a single rail assembly 130 so as to be extracted from or retracted into the storage space 110. However, the detailed construction of the rail assembly 130 of the present invention is substantially identical to that of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4.

That is, the rail assembly 130 includes a guide rail 32, an intermediate rail 144, a movable rail 146, and a damping unit 134. In addition, the guide rail 132 is provided with an anchoring rib formed with a plurality of through holes 133 a, through which screws S are inserted and anchored to anchoring holes formed on the bottom wall of the storage space 110.

In addition, the damping unit 134 includes a cylinder filled with damping fluid, a piston, a spring, a rod 137, and a cooperation cam 138. The cooperation cam 138 is provided with a retracting-cooperative projection 138 a, an extracting-cooperative projection 138 b, and a guide projection 138 c.

In addition, the guide rail 132 is provided with a guide rib 140 for guiding the cooperation cam 138 and the rod 137. The guide rib 140 is provided with a first guide slot 140 a for guiding the movement of the cooperation cam 138, the rod 137, the retracting-cooperative projection 138 a, and the extracting-cooperative projection 138 b, and a second guide slot 140 b for guiding the movement of the guide projection 138 c and hooking the second guide projection 138 c.

The movable rail 146 is provided with a cooperation member 148. The cooperation member 148 is provided with a retracting-cooperative member 148, with which the retracting-cooperative projection 138 a comes into close contact, and an extracting-cooperative part 148 b, on which the extracting-cooperative projection 138 b is seated.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, a plurality of ball bearings B are provided between the guide rail 132 and the intermediate rail 144 and between the intermediate rail 144 and the movable rail 146. The ball bearings B serve to reduce friction between the guide rail 132 and the intermediate rail 144 and between the intermediate rail 144 and the movable rail 146.

However, the construction for fixing the movable rail 146 and the storage box 152 is different from that of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. That is, a pair of mounting bosses 150 is provided on the top of the movable rail 146. The mounting bosses 150 are extended to a predetermined height from the top surface of the movable rail 146. In addition, the bottom surface of the storage box 152 is formed with a mounting channel 156. The mounting channel 156 is formed by deforming the longitudinal central area of the bottom wall of the storage box 152 upwardly from the bottom side of the bottom wall of the storage box 152 by a predetermined height. The rail assembly 130 is inserted into the mounting channel 156. The depth of the mounting channel 156 is determined in such a manner that the bottom wall of the storage space 110 and the bottom surface of the storage box are spaced from each other by a predetermined distance in the state in which the rail assembly 130 is inserted into the mounting channel 156. In addition, at the bottom area corresponding to the inner top surface of the mounting channel 156, a pair of mounting grooves 156 a is formed. The mounting bosses 150 are inserted into the mounting grooves 156 a, respectively.

In the present embodiment, the storage box 152 is supported by the rail assembly inserted into the mounting channel 156 in the state in which the bottom surface of the storage box 152 is spaced from the bottom wall of the storage space 110. Therefore, it is possible to prevent from the bottom surface of the storage box 152 from coming into contact with the bottom wall of the storage space 110, which is caused as the bottom wall of the storage box 152 sags due to the weight of food received in a receiving space 154 formed in the storage box 152.

According to the present invention, the guide rail 132 is provided with a guide channel 132 c within the interior thereof. The guide channel 132 c of the guide rail 132 is formed in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail 132 so that the guide channel 132 c has a rectangular cross-section, the top side of which is partially opened.

In addition, the movable rail 146 is also provided with a guide channel 146 c within the interior thereof. The guide channel 146 c of the movable rail 146 is formed in the longitudinal direction of the movable rail 146 so that the guide channel 146 c has a rectangular cross-section, the bottom side of which is partially opened. That is, the guide channel 132 c of the guide rail 132 and the guide channel 146 c of the guide rail 146 are partially opened at the sides opposed to each other.

Meanwhile, the intermediate rail 144 is formed to be elongated in the longitudinal direction, so that its upper and lower parts are inserted into the guide channel 132 c of the guide rail 132 and the guide channel 146 c of the movable rail 146, respectively. At this time, the top and bottom edges of the intermediate rail 144 are spaced from the bottom surface of the guide channel 132 c of the guide rail 132 and the top surface of the guide channel 146 c of the movable rail 146.

In addition, the intermediate rail 144 is provided with a pair of guide flanges 144 f. Each of the guide flanges 144 f of the intermediate rail 144 extends in the direction perpendicular to the intermediate rail 144 at a position spaced upward or downward by a predetermined interval from the top or bottom edge of the intermediate rail 144. Therefore, the bottom or top surface of each of the guide flanges 144 f of the intermediate rail 144 are spaced from the bottom surface of the guide channel 132 c of the guide rail 132 or the top surface of the guide channel 146 c of the movable rail 146 by a predetermined distance.

In addition, the top or bottom surface of each of the guide flanges 144 f of the intermediate rail 144 is provided with a partition rib 144 r. The partition ribs 144 r project downward or upward from the bottom surface or top surface of the guide flanges 144 f of the intermediate rail 144 corresponding to the top and bottom edges of the intermediate rail 144, respectively. At this time, the tip ends of the partition ribs 144 r of the intermediate rail 144 are preferably spaced from the bottom surface of the guide channel 132 c of the guide channel 132 and the top surface of the guide channel 146 c of the movable rail 146 by a predetermined distance, respectively. In the present invention, it is described that the partition ribs 144 r of the intermediate rail 144 project from the top and bottom surface of the guide flanges 144 f, respectively. However, in practice, each of the guide flanges 144 f of the intermediate rail 144 is provided at a position spaced from the top or bottom edge of the intermediate rail 144 by a predetermined distance, whereby a part of each guide flange adjacent to the top or bottom edge of the intermediate rail 144 forms a partition rib 144 r of the intermediate rail.

In addition, a plurality of ball bearings B are interposed between the bottom surface of the guide channel 132 c of the guide rail 132 and the bottom surface of one of the guide flanges 144 f of the intermediate rail 144, and between the top surface of the guide channel 146 c of the movable rail 146 and the top surface of the other of the flanges 144 f of the intermediate rail 144, respectively. At this time, the ball bearings B are partitioned by the partition ribs 144 r of the intermediate rail 144, so that the ball bearings B cannot move in the direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the guide rail 132 and the movable rail 146 in relation to the intermediate rail, i.e. in the left or right on the drawing of FIG. 7.

In addition, a plurality of ball bearings B are also provided between the top surface of the guide channel 132 c of the guide rail 132 adjacent to the opened part thereof and the top surface of one of the guide flanges 144 f of the intermediate rail 144, and between the bottom surface of the guide channel 146 c of the movable rail 146 adjacent to the opened part thereof and the bottom surface of the other of the flanges 144 f of the intermediate rail 144. At this time, the ball bearings B are substantially prevented from moving right or left on the drawing of FIG. 7 by the intermediate rail 144.

From the inventive refrigerator rail assembly and the inventive refrigerator storage box extracting/retracting box having the same described above, the following effects can be expected.

At first, according to the present invention, even if an external force biased toward the rear side of the storage space for receiving the storage box is applied to the rail assembly, the velocity of the storage box retracted into the storage space can be controlled. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent a user from being injured as the storage box is retracted into the storage space in an overly high velocity. As a result, the user can more safely use the final product.

In addition, since the velocity of the storage box retracted into the storage space is capable of being controlled, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of an impact or noise during the extraction or retraction of the storage box. Therefore, it is possible to enhance the convenience and endurance of the final product.

Moreover, according to the second embodiment of the present invention providing the rail assembly on the bottom wall of the storage space, it is possible to minimize between the bottom surface of the storage box and the bottom wall of the storage space. As a result, a user more can more easily extract or retract the storage box in relation to the storage space.

Although several embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

In the above-mentioned embodiments, a spring is provided in the damping unit so as to apply an elastic force to the piston, the rod and the cooperation cam. However, the present invention is not limited to the spring and an elastic member having a predetermined elasticity can be employed to the present invention. 

1. A refrigerator rail assembly for guiding a storage box while the storage box is being extracted from or retracted into a space of a refrigerator, comprising: a guide rail provided on a side of the storage space to extend in the front-to-rear direction of the storage space, the guide rail having a guide channel formed in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail and opened at a side thereof; a movable rail having a guide channel formed in the longitudinal direction of the movable rail and opened at a side opposed to the guide channel of the guide rail, the storage box being removably installed to the movable rail; an intermediate rail having a pair of guide flanges which are inserted into the guide channels, respectively; and a plurality of ball bearings interposed between the guide channels and the guide flanges, wherein the guide rail and the movable rail move in relation to the intermediate rail, whereby the storage box is extracted from or retracted into the storage space.
 2. A refrigerator rail assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the guide channels is formed to have a polyhedral cross-section, one side of which is at least partially opened, each of the guide flanges is formed so as to be positioned within a corresponding guide channel in such a manner that one surface of the guide flange is spaced from an inner surface of the guide channel opposed to the guide flange by a predetermined interval, and the ball bearings are interposed between an inner surface of each of the guide channels and one surface of each of the guide flanges, wherein the inner surface and the one surface are opposed to each other.
 3. A refrigerator rail assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the damping device comprises: the one surface of the guide flange opposed to the inner surface of the guide channel is formed with a partition rib extending in the longitudinal direction of the guide flange so as to prevent the bearings from moving in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the intermediate rail.
 4. A refrigerator rail assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the intermediate rail is formed to extend in the longitudinal direction so that it is positioned within the guide channels in such a manner that its widthwise opposite edges are spaced from the inner surfaces of the guide channels by a predetermined distance, the guide flanges are spaced from the widthwise opposite edges of the intermediate rails by a predetermined distance, respectively, and the ball bearings are prevented from moving in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the intermediate rail by the widthwise opposite edges of the intermediate rail.
 5. A refrigerator rail assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the opposite side walls of the storage space is provided with the guide rail.
 6. A refrigerator rail assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide rail is provided on the bottom wall of the storage space.
 7. A refrigerator rail assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a damping device providing a damping force for controlling the moving velocity of the movable rail in relation to the guide rail.
 8. A refrigerator rail assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the damping device comprises: a damping unit providing a damping force for reducing the moving velocity of the movable rail in relation to the guide rail in the direction of retracting the storage box into the storage space; and an engagement means rendering the movable rail and the damping unit to be selectively engaged with each other depending to the moving direction of the movable rail in relation to the guide rail in the direction of extracting the storage box to the outside of the storage space.
 9. A refrigerator rail assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the damping unit comprises: a piston installed to be movable in the moving direction of the movable rail in relation to the guide rail; and damping fluid restricting the movement of the piston in the direction of retracting the storage box into the storage space.
 10. A refrigerator rail assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the damping unit further comprises an elastic member applying an elastic force to the piston in the direction of retracting the storage box into the storage space.
 11. A refrigerator rail assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein the engagement means comprises: a cooperation cam engaged with the piston; a guide member provided on the guide rail, the guide member having a first guide slot for guiding the movement of the cooperation cam; and a cooperation member provided on a side of the movable rail, the cooperation member being selectively engaged with the cooperation cam depending on the moving distance of the movable rail in relation to the guide rail in the direction of extracting the storage box to the outside of the storage space.
 12. A refrigerator rail assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein if the movable rail is moved in relation to the guide rail in the direction of retracting the storage box into the storage space, a retracting-cooperative projection provided on the cooperation cam comes into close contact with a retracting-cooperative part provided on the cooperation member, whereby the cooperation cam and the cooperation member are engaged with each other; wherein if the movable rail is moved in relation to the guide rail in the direction of extracting the storage box to the outside of the storage space, an extracting-cooperative projection provided on the cooperation cam is seated on an extracting-cooperative part provided on the cooperation member, whereby the cooperation cam and the cooperation member are engaged with each other; and wherein if the storage box is moved by a predetermined distance in relation to the guide rail in the direction of extracting the storage box to the outside of the storage space, a guide projection provided on the cooperation cam is moved along a second guide slot formed in the guide member, whereby the cooperation cam is elastically deformed in relation to the piston, so that the extracting-cooperative projection is released from the state seated on the extracting-cooperative part.
 13. A refrigerator storage box extracting/retracting apparatus comprising: a storage box installed to be capable of being extracted from/retracted into a storage space of a refrigerator; a rail assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 for guiding the extraction and retraction of the storage; and an engagement means rendering the storage box and the rail assembly to be removably engaged with each other.
 14. A refrigerator storage box extracting/retracting apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein each of the opposite side walls is provided with the guide rail of the rail assembly.
 15. A refrigerator storage box extracting/retracting apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the engagement means is a hook provided on a side of the guide rail of the rail assembly to be selectively hooked to a side of the storage box.
 16. A refrigerator storage box extracting/retracting apparatus as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a door connected to an end of the guide rail so as to selectively open or close the storage space like a drawer.
 17. A refrigerator storage box extracting/retracting apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the guide rail of the rail assembly is provided on the bottom wall of the storage space.
 18. A refrigerator storage box extracting/retracting apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the engagement means comprises: a mounting groove formed on one of the bottom surface of the storage box and the guide rail of the rail assembly; and a mounting boss formed on the other of the bottom surface of the storage box and the guide rail of the rail assembly and engaged with the mounting groove.
 19. A refrigerator storage box extracting/retracting apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the bottom surface of the storage box is provided with a mounting channel, into which the guide rail is inserted, the mounting channel being formed by deforming a part of the bottom surface upwardly, so that the bottom surface is recessed.
 20. A refrigerator storage box extracting/retracting apparatus as claimed in claim 19, further comprising a door connected to an end of the guide rail so as to selectively open or close the storage space like a drawer. 